Eagles sharpen talons for Feb. 2 home opener

Tuesday

The 40-day countdown to the season opener began on Christmas Day for the Oklahoma Wesleyan University blockbuster baseball team.

Emerging from one of the most successful seasons in program history — capped by NAIA regional championship and appearance in the NAIA World Series — optimism sizzles like a raging fire for the 2018 campaign.

It all begins on Feb. 2, when OKWU head coach Matt Parker’s alma mater Lyon (Ark.) College comes to town.

The teams will battle in a three-game set, Feb. 2-3, at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

In fact, OKWU will play its first eight games of the season at Doenges Stadium.

That bit of fortuitous scheduling was partially due to circumstances — every other year the Eagles open up at Lyon College.

But, Parker — who should reach the 300-win career milestone this season — also praised the beatified confines of the historic and picturesque Doenges facilities as a major drawing card.

“Doenges is a tremendous place to play,” he said.

In addition, Oklahoma is still considered south in the college baseball world, which means many of the teams further north like to travel here during the first two chilly weeks of February.

“Ultimately, we get all those teams from the north who want to play in warmer weather,” summarized Parker.

Coming off a 51-12 record last year, Parker said this year’s schedule could be even more challenging — especially in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference games.

For example, conference rival Bethany College brought on a board a new head coach that led Keiser (Fla.) University to last year’s NAIA World Series.

Two other conference powers, York (Neb.) and Tabor (Kan.), have qualified in recent years for the NAIA World Series.

In addition, the new Sterling (Kan.) head coach was an assistant at York when it played in the NAIA World Series.

“Five of the 10 head coaches in the KCAC have been to the World Series,” noted Parker. “That’s the thing I like most about it.”

Last season, the Eagle recorded a 20-6 conference mark to edge Tabor (18-8) for the regular season KCAC championship. Three other teams finished within four games of OKWU.

The Eagles also eye some noteworthy non-conference opponents, including Lyon, Southwestern Assemblies of God (SAGU), Roosevelt College, Northwestern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma City University.

OKWU is traveling to SAGU because so many Eagles are from Texas and will have a chance to play in front of their Lone Star State fans, Parker said.

Roosevelt is traveling to Bartlesville — and other Oklahoma sites — as part of a spring break trip.

NWOSU is a NCAA-II-level program.

Oklahoma City University is traditionally a super power.

In the preseason poll released last month, OCU was ranked No. 3 in the nation while OKWU came in at No. 5.

The overall schedule “is a tough one,” Parker said. “We’re after the goal of winning a national championship. We talk to the guys and tell time, ‘You didn’t come to Oklahoma Wesleyan to play in the little games.’ Our conference continues to get better.”

And, so does OKWU since Parker grabbed the program’s reins in 2012.

In six seasons, Parker’s teams have compiled a 272-105 record, including a 108-46 record in conference play.

The team is averaging 49.9 wins the past four seasons, during which period it has appeared twice in the NAIA World Series.

As far as key personnel, the Eagles return Chris Acosta-Tapia, last year’s NAIA National Player of the Year and a 2018 preseason All-American.

Tyler Shumpert — one of the nation’s top pitchers in either a starting or closer role — also is eligible to return, as are hard-socking first baseman Hunter Henry and last year’s starting shortstop Rodolfo Oleta.

Henry contributed eight homers and drove in 53 runs — while earning 35 walks — in 62 games in 2017. He also batted .374.

Oleta proved his value most in the defensive game (.965 fielding percentage, 36 doubleplays), but also put together a solid offensive season, batting .281, with three doubles, one homer and 31 RBIs. He also led the team with 15 sacrifice bunts.

Shumpert appeared in 28 games and led the nation with 14 saves. He rang up 47 strikeouts in 37.1 innings and surrendered only 13 walks.

These four players are just a handful of the quality, productive veterans from last season.

Parker also has brought in some blue-chip potential talent.

“During the past five years, we’ve been one of the top offensive teams in the country,” Parker noted. “I think that will continue this season. Last year, I said we had our best pitching staff ever, on paper. This group this year has a chance to be as good or better.”

Parker also is grateful some of his former players — notable Zach Johnson and Trevor Achenbach — want to come back to Bartlesville to work out with the team.

Both of those superior baseballers are set this coming year to open pro ball careers.

“We feel a big part of our program is that once you’ve been a part of it, you’re always a part of it,” said Parker. “We like to have guys come back and throw with us and work out with us.”

Once they all re-assemble from the holiday break, OKWU players will be preparing for a hectic regular season schedule — 55 games in 85 days, followed hopefully by the conference tournament, the NAIA regionals and the NAIA World Series.

The opportunity looms large.

It all gets underway on Feb. 2 — weather permitting.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.